Strike recording device for bowling alleys



Nov. 21, 1961 J. P. STAUTON ET AL 3,009,699

STRIKE RECORDING DEVICE FOR BOWLING ALLEYS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb.

a Rmm 5 m W mm. WSW 2f ME w JY B 6 v \x /I 6 Nov. 21, 1961 J. P. STAUTON ET AL 3,009,699

STRIKE RECORDING DEVICE FOR BOWLING ALLEYS Filed Feb. 1, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Joseph R Szazmzazz Les/z'e E Williams MM 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 J. P. STAUTON ET AL STRIKE RECORDING DEVICE FOR BOWLING ALLEYS INVENTOR. Joseph P Sfaunfon Les! f. Wzllz'ams Nov. 21, 1961 Filed Feb. 1, 1960 United States Patent 3,009,699 STRIKE RECORDING DEVICE F0 BOWLING ALLEYS Joseph P. Staunton and Leslie F. Williams, Spokane,

Wash., assignors to Strike-A-Lite Incorporated, Spokane, Wash., a corporation of Washington Filed Feb. 1, 1960, Ser. No. 5,963

Claims. (Cl. 27343) 'one alley and are tallied independently of the normal scoring method.

It is an object of this invention to couple to an automatrc pmsetter a device which will automatically indicate the number of consecutive strikes bowled on an alley.

It is another object of this invention to provide a switch on the pinsetter which will automatically reset the indieating apparatus when any strike is missed.

- It is another object of the invention to provide a visual indication of the number of consecutive strikes that have been bowled in an alley controlled entirely beyond the area of the bowlers to provide a simple and tamper-proof indicator system.

These and further objects will be evident from the following description and the accompanying drawings, which llustrate one preferred form of the invention. This form is meant to be exemplary only, and is not intended to limit the practice of the. invention, except as it is subsequently defined in the claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a wiring diagram of the circuit used in this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic portrayal of the electromechanical controls on the back surface of the rotary step switch shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side view of the step switch;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the step'switch;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary side view of the frame of an automatic pinsetting machine showing the position of the step switch;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary end view taken from th left in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the frames of two adjoining machines showing the installation of the step switches for the adjoining alleys;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary side view of the detectorplate mounting arrangement of a reset switch; and

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary end view taken from the left in FIGURE 8.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGURE 1 shows the wiring diagram for the strikeindicating circuits according to the preferred embodiment of the invention. The diagram covers the controls for two alleys, which are representative of any multiple number of alleys desired. Each bowling alley is to be equipped with an automatic pinsetter. One representative model will be fully identified in the description of the control switches below. Each alley is to be provided with an indicating board 10'such as shown in FIGURE 1, which is designed to be placed above the pins facing the bowling area. The design of the board is adaptable to any form desired by the management of the bowling alleys, and is not to be hereby limited in any manner.

The main controlling element governing the indicating board 10 is a rotary step switch 11 shown diagrammatically in FIGURES 1 and 2. This switch is of common design and is operated by two solenoids-a reset solenoid designated as 12 and a step solenoid designated as 13.

The central armature 14 of the rotary step switch 11 isv rotatably jour'nalled in a frame 15 which is mounted in any convenient stationary location. The front side of p frame 15 has mounted thereon a plurality of electrical contacts 16, which in this case are 13 in number and are designated as a, b, .c, m. Armature 14 is provided with a plurality of electrical wipers 17 which in the given example will number 12 and are designated as a, b, c, l. The spacing of the outer ends of wipers 17 is identical with the spacing of contacts 16. The wipers 17' are designed to slide over the surfaces of contacts 16 and to establish electrical contact between the wipers 17 and-contactsll6. Each wiper 17 establishes electrical contact with the armature 14, while each contact 16 is electrically connected to an individual terminal 19 on frame 15', which terminals are designated as a", b, c, I".

As can be seen in FIGURE 2, the back surface of frame 15 mounts the two control solenoids 12 and 13. The armature 35 of the reset solenoid 12 is pivoted to a limit arm 36 having a bent end 37 which engages the radial portions of teeth 32 formed on a circular rack 33 fixed to armature 14. Arm 36 is biased toward the rack 33 by a tension spring 34 mounted betweenthe arm 36 and frame 15. Arm 36 normally prevents movement of the armature 15 and rack 33 in a counterclockwise direction as seen in FIGURE 2, but allows movement in a clockwise direction, since bent end 37 of arm 36 can ride up the angular portions of teeth 32 under the yielding action of spring 34. When reset solenoid 12 is activated, arm 36 is disengaged from teeth 32 and is no longer effective.

The step solenoid 13 is pivoted to a stepping arm. 33

Any equivalent, type of rotary step swrtch mechanism" is equally adaptable to this invention.

As viewed in FIGURE 2 the armature 14 is biased in a counter-clockwise direction by a-tension spring 18 which is connected at 20 to armature 14 and at 21 to frame 15. A wiper 19 also serves as a conductor to armature 14 by means of an intermediate conductor 22 connected between wiper 19 and a terminal 23 mountedon frame 15. (See FIGURE 1.) i

A cut-off switch 24 is mounted on frame 15 by means of a base 25 to which two flexible contacts 26., 27 are A attached. Contacts 2 6, 27 are biased toward each other v and one contact 26, has an extension 28' protruding over a portion of armature 14. A pin 30 on armature l4 lies in the path of extension 28.

on rack 33. I

The general operation of the rotary step switch 11 is'as follows. Each time the switch 11 has been reset, armature '14 will assume the position of FIGURE 1 due to the biasing action of spring 18, In this position, switch 24- is opened and no contacts 16 are contacted by the wipers 17.

A stop v31 on frame 7 15 is positioned so as to prevent rotation of armature- 14 by spring 18 beyond the position shown in FIGURE, 1 wherein the stop 31 is abutted by an extension 31a If step solenoid 13 is activated, by an elec-' trical pulse, it will cause the armature 14 to revolve one step, bringing wiper a into contact withcontact a and will allow switch24- to close. A second consecutive pulse to solenoid 13 will advance wiper a to contact b and bring wiper b into contact with contact a. Each con secutive pulse to solenoid 13 will therefore result in an additional circuit being established between armature 14 and the contacts 16. However, should a pulse be conducted to the reset solenoid 12, the armature 14 will be released and will be biased by spring 18 to the initial position shown in FIGURE 1.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the main power supply is a transformer 42 connected to a usual 110 volt alternating current supply 43. Transformer 42 preferably has two stepped down outputs, the first being at 20 volts A.C. and designated 44; the second being at 50 volts AC. and designated 45. Obviously, the capacity of transformer 42 and the voltages used in the invention may be varied to suit the requirements of the individual installation. The use of stepped-down voltages is an economy measure and is entirely arbitrary. The output of transformer 42 at 44 is connected to lamp supply lines 46, 47 and the output of transformer 42 at 45 is connected to solenoid supply lines 48, 50. A main switch 51 at the central desk is inserted between output 44 and line 46 and is used to turn off all the lamp assemblies when not in use. a

Each alley is wired in an identical manner. The lamps 52, which are mounted on each alley in any preferred design, each have one side connected to one of the terminals 19, designated as a", b", c" 1'', respectively. The remaining side of each lamp 52 is connected to a common feed line 53 which is directly connected to lamp supply line 47. The remaining lamp supply line 46 is connected directly to terminal 23 of armature 14 by means of wire 54 to thereby complete the lamp circuitry.

The solenoids 12 and 13 each have one lead connected directly to solenoid supply line 48 by means of a common feed line 55. Step solenoid 13 has its remaining terminal wired by means of wire 56 to one side of a normally open single pole-single throw step switch 57 which will be more fully described below. The remaining side of switch 57 is connected by means of common line 58 and protective fuse 60 to solenoid power line 50. The remaining terminal of reset solenoid 12 is connected by means of wire 61 to the first side of cut-olf switch 24. The remaining side of switch 24 is wired in series with a single pole-single throw reset switch 62 by means of intermediate wire 63. The second terminal of switch 62 is in turn wired directly to the common line 58 to complete the solenoid circuitry.

The operation of the device as described is quite simple and systematic. When the transformer 42 is on, and switch 51 is closed, theentire system is ready for use. The initial position of armature 14 is shown in FIGURE 1, wherein all the circuits to the lamps 52 are open and the cut-off switch 24 is held open by pin 30. Switch 24 protects reset solenoid 12 from over-heating during extended periods of use. When the step switch 57 is closed, step solenoid 13 will advance the armature 14 one step, bringing wiper a into contact with contact a and closing cut-off switch 24, as previously described. Subsequent closing of step switch 57 or reset switch 62 will then activate solenoids 13 or 12 respectively, which will advance or reset the armature 14. Step switch 57 is capable of advancing armature 14 a total of 13 times, which will light all the lamps 52. However, this must be accomplished by consecutive activation of step switch 57, since any activation of reset switch 62 will automatically return the armature 14 to the initial position shown in FIGURE 1.

To interrelate this mechanism to the game of bowling in order to record consecutive strikes, reference must be made to a specific pinsetting machine, although this device is capable of being adapted to any automatic pinsetting machine available. The previously disclosed circuitry may be electrically controlled by relays or may be mechanically controlled by the mechanical action of the pinsetting machine. The only requisite is that the step switch 57 must be closed each time a complete set of pins is set on the alley and the reset switch 62 must be closed each time a partial number of the pins remains on the alley after a ball has been rolled. The first of these conditions will only occur initially when the pins are being set (which will not light any lamp, since terminal 16-a is not connected to an indicating lamp) and thereafter will occur in an unbroken chain only when a strike is bowled (all pins being knocked over by the bowlers first ball). If a strike is not bowled, pins will remain on the alley and therefore reset switch 62 must be activated to break the chain of pulses sent to step solenoid 13 by step switch 57.

As an example of a typical installation, FIGURES 5 to 9 show the switches 57 and 62 mounted on a Brunswick Automatic Pinsetter as described in the Service Manual for this machine as revised in October, 1957 and published by the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company of Pararnus, New Jersey. Since the pinsetting operations of the machine are unchanged by this invention, further description of its operation in general will not be offered herein, but may be found fully described in the abovecited manual.

The construction of switches 57 and 62 is shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. Since both are identical, a description. of switch 57 will sufiice. It is composed of a bottom heavy insulating backing element 64. A short insulating block 65 spaces element 64 from the lower contact conductor 66 which is provided with a terminal 67 and a contact point 68. Another insulating block 70 spaces conductor 66 from the upper contact conductor 71 which connects a terminal 72 and a second contact point 73. A flexible insulating strip 74 mounted directly above upper conductor 71 completes the switch assembly. The contact points are normally open, but are easily closed by pressure exerted on the insulating strip 74.

The step switch 57 is mounted as shown in FIGURES 5-7. Each alley is separated from adjoining alleys by a kickback 75. Mounted on each kickback are the side frames 76 for the adjacent alley. Each side frame includes a horizontal brace 77 rigidly secured between two vertical posts 78 and 80. Pivoted to post 78 is a movable deck support arm 81 which lifts and lowers the deck which holds pins to be set (not shown). This arm 81 only extends downward as shown in FIGURE 5 when a full set of pins are to be set. If pins have been left standing, it pivots a very short distance in a detecting stroke and lifts the pins while the alley is being cleared. It then replaces the pins by the same short stroke. A wooden or insulated block 82 has been placed on the horizontal brace 77. Switch 57 is mounted on the block 82 with the insulating strip 74 mounted on the block 82 with the insulating strip 74 mounted in the path of movement of the arm 81. Switch 57 will thereby be closed only when a complete new set of pins are being set in the alley, which meets the requirements of operation set out above. If an alley is on each side of the kickback 75 as is the usual case, two switches 57 will be arranged on each block 82, as seen in FIGURE 7, each switch 57 being wired in the circuit for its individual alley.

The mounting for the reset switch is shown in FIG- URES 8 and 9. A vertical detector plate 83 on the machine is used as a backing element for a wooden or insulated block 84 which is fastened to it by means of bolts 85, 86. This block 84 has mounted thereon the reset switch 62. Switch 62 is mounted in the path of a lever 87 which is pivoted by a shaft 88 that is part of the detector assembly. Shaft 88 pivots lever 87 to the right in FIGURE 8 each time a first ball is to be rolled. This activates a micro-switch 90 on the frame 91 of the machine, which lights the usual first ball lamp for the.

the second ball lamp. This movement to the left also closes the reset switch 62 and satisfies the operational requirements outlined above.

It seems obvious that this mechanism will operate in the manner previously outlined. The lamps 52 will record consecutive strikes only. A bowling establishment may reward the bowler or group depending on the number of lamps that are lit on the alley being used. Although 12 consecutive strikes are rare, the apparatus may be reset manually by using the common foul button to clear the bowling alley.

Various modifications can be made in the apparatus without departing from our invention. Therefore the following claims are intended to be the only definitions of the bounds of the invention.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. An apparatus for recording consecutive strikes bowled on a bowling alley equipped with an automatic pinsetting machine, comprising step switch means operatively connected to strike indicating means, step means in said step switch means adapted, when activated, to advance said step switch means and thereby activate said strike indicating means, reset means in said step switch means adapted, when activated, to return said step switch means to its original condition, first means operatively connected to the pinsetting machine and to said step means adapted to activate said step means each time a new full set of pins is set upon the alley by the machine, and second means operatively connected to the pinsetting machine and said reset means adapted to energize said reset means when pins remain on the alley after a first ball has been bowled.

2. The combination with an automatic pinsetting machine having a first element which is moved in a predetermined path only when a new full set of pins is set upon the bowling alley by the machine and a second element which is moved in a predetermined path only when pins are left standing on the alley after a bowlers first ball has been rolled; of a consecutive strike recording apparatus comprising step switch means, strike indicating means controlled by said step switch means, said step switch means including step means adapted to advance said step switch means when activated, said step switch means also including a reset means adapted to return said step switch means to its initial condition when activated, first means positioned in said predetermined path of said first element and operatively connected to said step means adapted to activate said step means each time said first element is moved in said predetermined path, and second means positioned in said predetermined path of said second element and operatively connected to said reset means adapted to activate said reset means each time said second element is moved in said predetermined path.

3. The combination with an automatic pinsetting machine having a first element which is moved in a predetermined path only when a new full set of pins is set upon the alley by the machine, and a second element which is moved in a predetermined path only when pins remain standing on the alley after a bowlers first ball 6 switch, first solenoid means in said rotarystep switch op eratively connected therewith and adapted to advance said rotary step switch each time said first solenoid means is energized, biasing means operatively connected to said rotary step switch to urge said rotary step switch into its initial condition, second solenoid means in said rotary step switch operatively connected therewith and adapted to normally block movement of said rotary step switch under the influence of said biasing means, and second solenoid means being adapted when energized to return said rotary step switch to its initial condition under the action of said biasing means, strike indicating means connected to the output terminals of said rotary step switch and adapted to be selectively activated by advancement of said rotary step switch, a first control circuit connected to said first solenoid means and including first means positioned in the predetermined path of said first element and adapted to be operated by movement of said 7 first element in said predetermined path to thereby energize said first solenoid means, and a second control circuit connected to said second solenoid means and including second means positioned in the predetermined path of said second element and adapted to be operated by movement of said second element in said predetermined path to thereby energize said second solenoid.

4. An apparatus for recording consecutive strikes bowled on a bowling alley equipped with an automatic pinsetting machine, comprising a rotary step switch having a plurality of output terminals which are adapted to be selectively connected to an input terminal by advancement of said rotary step switch, step means in said rotary step switch operatively connected therewith and adapted to advance said rotary step switch each time said step means is energized, reset means in said rotary step switch adapted to return said rotary step switch to its initial condition each time said reset means is energized, an indicating board having mounted thereon indicating means adapted to represent the number of consecutive strikes bowled, said indicating means being operatively connected to said output terminals of said rotary step switch to be selectively operated thereby, and first means operatively connected to the pinsetting machine and to said step means adapted to energize said step means each time that a new full set of plus is set upon the alley by the machine, and second means operatively connected to the pinsetting machine and to said reset means adapted to energize said reset means each time that pins remain standing on the alley after a first ball has been bowled.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said indicating means comprises a plurality of lamps equal in number to the maximum number of strikes to be recorded, each of said lamps being wired in a circuit including a separate one of said output terminals, whereby advancement of said rotary step switch results in selective lighting of the lamps to thereby indicate the number of strikes bowled.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,652,252 Alexander Sept. 15, '1953 2,705,146 Montooth et al Mar. 29, 1955 2,890,886 Dumas June 16, 1959 

